Sharing the trial and error learned lessons of a MS spouse caregiver / carer about family, home care, and transition to the care facility era from 23 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis as a family ... a ‘warts and all’ picture of living with MS.

Optimum positioning is theoretical; we deal in ‘best of possible’. Position chair remembering this is a “pivot’ transfer, at most you will be moving only one foot.

Engage wheelchair brakes and double check.

COMMUNICATE

Talk through your transfer plan including both your role and person in wheelchair’s role. Avoid directional words such as right and left, remember you are facing each other this gets confusing. Pantomime is not only effective but often humorous and a little laughter goes a long way to reduce transfer tension.

POSTIONING

Toe-to-toe knee-to-knee I lean down toward Patti. She hooks her arms around the back of my neck. I put my hands around her lower back.

I use a three count countdown to transfer. On ‘one’ and ‘two’ I rock Patti forward giving her a sense of the momentum and dynamics then release her back to an upright seated position. Additionally this gives MY back and knees two quick stretches before transfer.

On ‘three’ I squat, pull Patti forward toward me, and I begin to stand up to a hug, encouraging her to extend her legs to ‘touch the floor’.

Important: Never hesitate to abort transfer if either you or the person you are transferring is experiencing pain. Simply release them back into wheel chair and seek assistance.

PIVOT

IF Patti has extended her legs then I simply pivot ‘us’ at target and lower her by squatting down and releasing hug. We might even be confused for dancers.

Now if Patti ‘has not’ extended her legs … well then it resembles whatever it takes to end safely.

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Neither life nor life’s challenges come with a how to manual. People sharing their experiences can often be the best of possible windows.

Action Handling Equipment Ltd is one of the most trusted names in the UK when it comes to material handling equipment, lifting equipment, office supplies, industrial weighing equipment, packaging and warehouse equipment.Lifting Equipment

Action Handling Equipment Ltd is one of the most trusted names in the UK when it comes to material handling equipment, lifting equipment, office supplies, industrial weighing equipment, packaging and warehouse equipmentLifting Equipment

The "bear-hug" pivot transfer is wonderful! You can transfer someone by yourself and not have to wait for another staff member to show up. The "bear-hug" transfer is what got me through a week at work when we were short on volunteers!